breakwake_
Mr
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Since theres a racism debate going on I thought I'd enlighten people on this.
It is not just the Mayday Obby Oss festival for which Padstow is famous. Every year on Boxing Day and New Year's Day the townsfolk take to the streets once more for their corresponding winter festival, traditionally known as Darkie Days.
The name Darkie Day is actually a corruption of the original Darking Day, which refers to the "darking" (darkening) of the faces. Both the face painting and the term Darkie have no connection to black people as a group.
Darkie Days forms part of an ancient tradition of Pagan midwinter festivals that were until quite recently celebrated all over Cornwall between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night. The festivals centred on the practice of guise dancing (also known as goose dancing), which usually involved the performance of a traditional play (known as a Mummer's or Mumming play) whilst wearing a disguise, traditionally a blackened face, which allowed the players to lose their inhibitions and perform outlandishly in return for food or money. The practice of blacking one's face signalled a contrast to the summer festivals, such as the Obby Oss, during which white would be worn to herald the spring.
Previously known as 'Darkie Day', the event's name was changed a few years ago after complaints from, among others, Britain's first black female MP the ill informed Diane Abbott, who tabled a House of Commons motion trying to ban it.
In 2004, Devon and Cornwall Police caused uproar in the town when a large number of officers turned up to gather video evidence of possible racial offences at the event. No charges were brought.
The event raises large sums for charitable good causes.
It is not just the Mayday Obby Oss festival for which Padstow is famous. Every year on Boxing Day and New Year's Day the townsfolk take to the streets once more for their corresponding winter festival, traditionally known as Darkie Days.
The name Darkie Day is actually a corruption of the original Darking Day, which refers to the "darking" (darkening) of the faces. Both the face painting and the term Darkie have no connection to black people as a group.
Darkie Days forms part of an ancient tradition of Pagan midwinter festivals that were until quite recently celebrated all over Cornwall between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night. The festivals centred on the practice of guise dancing (also known as goose dancing), which usually involved the performance of a traditional play (known as a Mummer's or Mumming play) whilst wearing a disguise, traditionally a blackened face, which allowed the players to lose their inhibitions and perform outlandishly in return for food or money. The practice of blacking one's face signalled a contrast to the summer festivals, such as the Obby Oss, during which white would be worn to herald the spring.
Previously known as 'Darkie Day', the event's name was changed a few years ago after complaints from, among others, Britain's first black female MP the ill informed Diane Abbott, who tabled a House of Commons motion trying to ban it.
In 2004, Devon and Cornwall Police caused uproar in the town when a large number of officers turned up to gather video evidence of possible racial offences at the event. No charges were brought.
The event raises large sums for charitable good causes.
